Photo: 6wh07433 at English Wikipedia · Public domainFEMA puts Wayne’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wayne gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). Flood insurance has paid 15 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Wayne faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Wayne’s grade
River and rain flooding is 98% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wayne, and Wayne’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wayne’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Wayne: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wayne flood? Sometimes: 15 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wayne, from FEMA’s records: 18.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Wayne isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wayne County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wayne
Disasters that paid out in Wayne itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wayne), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides13 households applied for aid$65K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides56 households applied for aid$327K aid approved
- 2021Severe Storms and Flooding16 households applied for aid$55K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms$17K to the Town of Wayne for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides10 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides17 households applied for aid$24K aid approved
Show all 11
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides5 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides70 households applied for aid$168K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides135 households applied for aid$267K aid approved$24K to the Town of Wayne for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides29 households applied for aid$63K aid approved
- 2001Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides$3K to the Town of Wayne for repairs
Wayne County has had 28 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Wayne County, 2001–2001.
Old photos of Wayne after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wayne archive →Get ready for what Wayne faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Wayne
Is Wayne at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wayne has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wayne flood?
Flood insurance has paid 15 claims in Wayne since 1978, $206K in all, or 18.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Wayne in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Wayne County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wayne?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wayne’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Wayne?
By FEMA money that reached Wayne, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 56 households applied for aid, $327K approved.
Is Wayne at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (98%), and Wayne’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wayne.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wayne’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.